Medicare’s annual enrollment period (AEP) is from October 15th through December 7th. This is your opportunity to change your health plan for the next calendar year.
Additionally, Medicare has a Medicare Advantage (MA) Open Enrollment Period, this is for those who are already in a MA plan, from January 1st through March 31st. During this time period you may do the following:
- Switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage
- Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and go back to Original Medicare
- Join a Medicare drug plan
New to Medicare? Attend a meeting
If you are new to Medicare, or would just like more information about all the options you have once you have Medicare, please consider joining us at one of our monthly meeting, Medicare 101 & Your Options. We offer these meetings both on-line as a webinar and in-person.
Medicare 101 & Your Options
Accepted Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans
Below is a listing of the Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans purchased as an individual where NorthBay Health is considered in-network. This does not reflect any plans offered through an employer/retiree plan.
Health Plans for 2025:
- Original Medicare
- Medicare Supplements, plans A-N (such as TriCare for Life, AARP Medicare Supplement, USAA Medicare Supplement, Mutual of Omaha, etc.)
- For employer sponsored retiree plans, please visit our accepted health plans page
- Medicare Advantage Plans include the following:
- Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Anthem Dual Advantage 2 (PPO D-SNP) - Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan
- AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-033P (HMO-POS)
- UHC Complete Care Support CA-8AP (HMO C-SNP) (This is a Chronic or Disabling Condition Special Needs Plan designed to specifically help people who have one or more of the following conditions: Cardiovascular Disorders, Chronic Heart Failure, and Diabetes.)
Special update for Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO individual plans:
- Both our hospitals are out-of-network.
- Starting 5/1/2025: our primary care doctors and specialists will be out-of-network.
- If you have out-of-network benefits: You can continue seeing NorthBay Health doctors and receive treatment at both our hospitals with higher co-pays and an out-of-pocket maximum.
Special update for UHC Medicare Advantage plans:
- You will need to enroll through our partner Meritage Medical Network to see a NorthBay Health primary care doctor under a UHC Medicare Advantage plan. UHC Medicare Advantage and Medicare are not permitting enrollment into this group
- Our primary care doctors are not available through Hill Physicians Medical Group and UHC Medicare Advantage. You will need to select a different primary care doctor. Referrals are accepted into specialty services.
Don't see your plan listed?
If you do not see your plan listed here, it means either:
- Our hospital group (NorthBay Health Medical Center and NorthBay Health VacaValley Hospital) is not in-network.
- Our medical group is not in-network.
- Our hospital and our medical group are not in-network.
If you have a Medicare Advantage PPO plan, and you have out-of-network benefits, you can be seen and you will have a higher out-of-pocket cost.
Why choose a Medicare Advantage plan?
Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare including prescription drug coverage (Part D), and others such as dental, vision and over-the-counter allowance.
If your current plan doesn't offer the benefits and features you are looking for, it may be time to switch to a new Medicare plan.
Want more information?
Have a Medicare question?
Use this form to send your question.
